Frank D. Comerford Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank D. Comerford Dam |
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|---|---|
| Official name | Frank D. Comerford Dam |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Monroe, New Hampshire Barnet, Vermont |
| Coordinates | 44°19′31″N 72°0′03″W / 44.32528°N 72.00083°W |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1928 |
| Opening date | 1930 |
| Owner(s) | Great River Hydro |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Connecticut River |
| Height | 170 feet (52 m) |
| Length | 2,253 feet (687 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 647 feet (197 m) |
| Spillways | 1 |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Comerford Reservoir |
| 140 Megawatts capacity at 13,300 cfs discharge | |
The Frank D. Comerford Dam is a large concrete dam built in a modern style. It sits on the Connecticut River, right on the border between New Hampshire and Vermont. This area was once known as "Fifteen Mile Falls."
The dam is located near the towns of Monroe, New Hampshire and Barnet, Vermont. Building the dam started in 1928 and was finished in 1931. Today, Great River Hydro, LLC, owns and operates the dam and its power plant. They bought it in 2017.
The Comerford Reservoir is the lake formed behind the dam. It is named after Frank D. Comerford. He was an important leader of the Connecticut River Power Company.
Contents
What Dams Do
Dams like the Comerford Dam are used to create hydroelectricity. This means they use the power of moving water to make electricity. Hydroelectric power plants are great because they can quickly change how much electricity they produce. This helps match the amount of power needed at different times of the day.
How the Land Was Formed
Long ago, before glaciers covered the land, the Connecticut River carved a deep channel. This channel was about 40 to 100 feet deep. Over a distance of 15 miles, the river dropped about 320 feet. This steep drop created what people called "Fifteen Mile Falls." It was a perfect spot to build a dam and generate power.
History of the Dam
On September 30, 1930, something special happened. President Herbert Hoover started the Comerford Dam's electricity generation remotely. This was a big deal because it was New England's largest hydroelectric project at the time. It was one of the first major steps in using water power across the United States in the 1930s.
The electricity produced here traveled a long way, about 126 miles, to be used in Massachusetts. When it was built, the dam was considered the largest "retaining wall" in the country. It used more than 90,000 cubic yards of concrete.
Building the Dam
To build the dam, a special camp was set up in East Barnet, Vermont in 1928. About 1,500 workers lived there. The camp had everything they needed, like housing, a store, a theater, and even a hospital. It also had sports teams, like hockey and basketball.
About 120 people worked to prepare meals for everyone. Most of the workers, about 1,300 men, worked the day shift. They started at 7:00 AM and finished at 6:00 PM, with an hour break for lunch. Another 300 men worked through the night.
To get all the building materials to the site, a special 3-mile-long railroad track was built. This made it easier to transport heavy concrete and other supplies.
Key Parts of the Dam
The Comerford Reservoir holds a lot of water, about 32,270 acre-feet. When full, the water level is about 647 feet above sea level. The dam itself is a "gravity dam," meaning its huge weight holds back the water. It is 2,253 feet long and made of concrete and earth.
Inside the dam, there are four large steel pipes called penstocks. These pipes carry water to the powerhouse. In the powerhouse, four powerful Francis turbines spin. Each turbine can produce 54,200 horsepower. Together, they can generate 140 megawatts of electricity. They use about 13,300 cubic feet of water per second.
There is also an 850-foot-long spillway. This part of the dam is used to release extra water. It helps control the water level in the reservoir when there's too much water to be used for making electricity.
